Slice evener and stacker



July 9, 1935. H. H. MCKEE E! AL 1 t e e h s S t e e h s 3 R E K C2 A5 T9 5.1 m1 t 0 d 1 F m c u M I v [fairy fij l ffee and 0120/66 J flziedz'llo.

INVENTOR Kw W %RNEY July 9, 1935. H. H. McKEE Er AL 2,007,339

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ER ed Oct. 1, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v IWITNE$-S I mm ATT'ORNEY 9 193%.. H. H. M KEE {ET m... 2 63mm SLICE EVENER AND STACKER Filed Oct. 1, 1932 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 'Mzrry 17 M Kee nd Mbfzoida flz iedzjcd.

INVENTQR 1 'r s a B y QLHWE-LM I ATTORNEY Patented July 9, 1935' Chicago,

111.,v assignors to. Industrial Patents Corporation, Chicago, 111., a. corporation of v Delaware Application October 1, 1932, saw N; ssasos 110mm. 01. 146 -159).v

, This inventionrelates to machines particularly adaptable for slicing slabs :of bacon and particularly tothat type of machine in which'the slicing is eifected by means of a reciprocating knifehavs ing a straightcutting edge. Machines of this type are generally'employed in conjunction with a-conveying element that is arranged to receive the slices of bacon as delivered thereto-from the slicing machine and to conduct the slices away from the machine during the normal functioning of the several parts, It is desirable that the slices be delivered. upon this conveying. or receiving element in a' uniform manner and arrangement and to that end an object of the l5 present invention isto provide a memb'er for effecting a stacking or evening of "the slices in respect to each other as the cutting operation is completed, and to accomplish this there is provided a member which is arranged near the forward or delivery side of :thexknife and near the lower cutting edge "thereof and which member.

is caused to automatically operatein such a manner that When the cutting operationfor a particular slice is completed, the slice evener or its lower edgeportion as an axis and so that it causes a relatively flat and uniform"delivery of the piecejust severed uponand respect to,

or at least in" overlapping arrangementin respectto, the slice previously cutand delivered.

Another object of the. invention is to construct a mechanism' whereby this automatic movement of the stacker andevener i's enabledto 3 With these and'other objectsin View, the mverition consists in the construction. and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated inrthe accomfl p anying drawings, and set forth in theclaims :hereto appended,- it being understood that various changes in theform, proportion, and minor details of construction; within the scopeof the claims, may beresorted'to without departing from Asil1ustrating a specific form of apparatus in which the invention may be realized, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification and which drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the forward end of a meat slicing machine that is par- I ticularly adaptable for use in the slicing of bacon. In this view, there is illustrated a portion of the main frame of thema'chine, guid'eways carried stacker swings forwardly and downwardly about thereby, a knife oarrierslidably mounted upon an'din respect to said guideways, a knife in position on the carrier, means for effecting reciprocation of the knife carrier, the forward end of the feeding or supporting table, longitudinal-. ly along which bacon slabs are fed in a general forward direction'to the cutter, a section of a continuously moving receiving and delivering conveyor arranged to receive slices of bacon as and when cut, a slice evener and stacker arranged in front of andnear the lower edge portion of the knifeQwhich lower edge portion 'of the knife constitutes a'straight transversely extending cutting edge portion, and mechanism associated with the slice evener and stacker on the one hand and the frame of the machine on the other, whereby-the upper portion of the slice evener and stacker is caused to swing about a transversely extending axis that parallels the straight cutting edge of the knife from a normal vertical position forwardly and downwardly in respect to the knife to a horizontal position as the knife approaches the end ofits'full cutting movement.

Fig 21s a view on somewhatlarger scale than Fig; 1]. and therein the arrangement and. construction of th'e'slice evener and. stacker and the opcrating mechanism therefor, particularly in re spect to the main frame on the'one hand and. the cutter on the other, is clearly illustrated.

- Fig. 2,'however, shows only a portion of the cut-.

ter-andstackerparts, as it would be evident thatce'rtainparts shown in Fig. 1 have been broken'away.

"Fig. 'Bfis aplan View ofthat portion of the construction shown in Fig, 2. h V

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the relationship of a driven and driving spiral gear which is emevener and Ls'tack enfl ployed the operating mechanism for the slice Fig. 5 v ineffect a diagrammatic view on small scalekshovvin g the relationship of the knife or knifecarrier on the one hand and the stacker and evener on the other. This figure maybe coni V sidered as a diagrammatic sectional view taken the spirit of the inventionor sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. f

on the li'ne'indicated by 5--5 in Fig. 2. In this Fig. 5. the stacker and evener is shown in its illustrating the manner in which the stacker and evener delivers the bacon to the receiving and delivering conveyor."

Reference will now'be made to the drawings l in detail. The mainframe of the machine is generallyindicated by i. andat the front end thereof :it'has the forwardly extending lugs or brackets 2 and 3 which provide support for parallel inclined guideways 4, upon which there is slidably mounted a knife or cutter carrier 5 to which there is secured a knife or cutter 6 that performs a slicing or cutting operation by movement in a vertically extending cutting plane. The knife or cutter carrier 5 is reciprocated along the guideways by any suitable mechanism, for example, such as would include the operating connecting rod 1 pivotally connected to the carrier through the.

medium of pin 8.

The machine has any suitable supporting and feeding means along which slabs of bacon may be fed in a general longitudinal forward direction to the cutter, and the forward end of the. machine preferably includes an anvil like construction provided as by the member 9. This anvil member 9 serves to support the bacon slabs while the cutter is moving downwardly towards the same to effect the slicing operation. This anvil 9. may be considered as part of the table supporting. mechanism along which the bacon slabs are fed towards the cutter. The guideways 4 for the cutter are inclined. and consequently the cutter as it functions has a combined slicing cutting action and a drawing cutting action.

The cutter carrier has secured thereto. at opposite sides thereof brackets, as ll, which provide bearings, as H and I2, that receive trunnion portions l3 and I4. of the slice evener and stacker I5. Thislslice evener and stacker comprises a relatively long narrow plate or blade like member which is positioned so that the lower edge thereof is normally located inv front. of but. near the cutting. edge portion of the knife. In fact, the lower edge of this" stacker is in substantial alignment with the axis of the trunnion members and is preferably beveled in cross section so that it can be. readily assembled in close relationship in respect to the knife, as will be manifest from an'inspection'of Fig. 5. The cutter, as previously indicated, has a lateral or trans.-

verse movement in respect to each slice of bacon during cutting, and the same is true of the evener and stacker,-with the result that there is little tendency, where the inclined knife carrier guides are employed, for the bacon slices to stick or adhere 'to'either the knife or the stacker.

On trunnion portion H of the stacker and evener, there issecured a driven spiral gear IS.

The bracket Ill also'carries therein a driving spiral gear ll, which is alwaysin mesh with. the-driven spiral gear I6. This driving spiral gear l-l. is connected to a shaft It, and theupper end-of this shaft 18' has secured thereto a driven member I!) of a universal coupling arrangement 20-, the driving member of which universal coupling is indicated by 2|. It will be noted that the several parts just referred to, to wit, the sliceevener and stacker IS, the trunnion M thereof, the driven spiral gear Hi thereupon, the driving gear H, the universal coupling 20, and also a rod 22 having a twisted portion 23- forminga spiralelement, all move up and down as the cutter carrier 5 is moved up and down, and consequently may be referred to as mechanism which is connected to the knife carrier 5 and which is movable up and down by and with the-knife carrier 5;

A member 24 is carried on the. main frame and to this there is. fixedly" secured and supported in place a member 25 which is constructed so as to provide a guidewayalong and in engagement U member 25 on the other is of such character that angular movement is imparted to the rod 22 as and when the spiral portion of the rod moves along in operative engagement with the fixed guide 25. This engagement of the spiral portion 23 of the rod 22 with the fixed guide 25 is relied upon for effecting the proper movement of the slice evener and stacker both to swing the slice evener and stacker from normal vertical position to a. horizontal position as the knife approaches the end of its cutting operation, and to restore the slice evener or stacker to its vertical position as the knife is moved upwardly from its full cutting position. It will also be observed that, broadly considered, the mechanism which comprehends the cooperating spiral gears, the rod 22 with the spiral portion, and the fixed guide 25, may be considered as mechanism which is cooperatively arranged with respect to the frame on the one hand and the knife carrier on the other, for effecting the proper movement of the slice evener and stacker in respect to the knife on the carrier as and when the carrier functions to move the knife towards and from full cutting position.

The slices as delivered drop on a continuously moving receiving and conveying member 25. Where the slice evener-and stacker is not employed, there is sometimes experienced a more or less uneven arrangement of the slices one in respect to the other, and the function of this slice evener and stacker is to effect a more uniform and positive arrangement of the slices one in respect to the other, as the slicing machine functions.

What is claimed is:

1. A. slicing machine comprising in combination a main frame, parallel guideway providing means carried by the frame, a knife carrier slidablymountedon said guideway providing means, means for supporting meat products during a slicing operation, a transversely extending knife secured to said carrier and means for reciprocating said carrier so that the knife thereupon moves towards and from said supporting means and. in relation thereto in a manner to effect a slicing operation when the cutter is moving towards said supporting means, said mechanism being characterized in that the knife carrier carries a slice evener. and stacker provided by a transversely extending member having a relatively narrow lower edge that is arranged along and adjacent the forward face portion'of the knife and only a short distance from the lower cutting, edge portion of, the-knife, and in; that the mechanism has means cooperatively associated with the frame on the one hand and the transversely extending stacker and evener on the other hand, and constructed so as to effect anangular movement of the stacker or evener in a manner to swing the upper portion of the stacker or evener in a. forward, downward direction until the normal front face of the-stacker is moved to substantially a right angle position in respect to the cutting plane and so that as'the knife carrier moves upwardly during its returnmovement the stacker will be restored to a normal relatively upright position whereat it remains until the cutter carrier is near the end of its travel for the succeeding cutting operation.

2. A slicing machine as per claim 1 in which the-parallel guideways are laterally inclined relative to the supporting means whereby the cutting operation that is carried out comprehends a drawing cutting action-as well as a. shearing cutting action, inwhich the transversely extending stackeror evener member'is carriedby trunnions that extend transversely into bearing members that are mountedupon and that are located at opposite sides of the'knife carrier, in which one of thetrunnion members has a driven spiral gear member secured thereto, in which a'dri'ving spiral gear meshing with the driven spiral gearis carried in andby a bracket member secured to or constituting'part of the knife carrier, in which a fixed guide member is secured to the main frame and in which a movable member having a spiral or twisted portion has a sliding engagement with the fixed guidemember and is connected by a universal joint construction to the driving spiral gear, the construction being such that as the knife carrier is imparted a sufiicient downward cutting movement the stacker is caused to have an angular movement imparted thereto in a manner to swing the upper part of the stacker from upper position downwardly and forwardly to a horizontalposition. 1 a V 3. A slicing machine comprisingin combination, a main frame, aaknife carrier movably mounted on said main frame, a transversely extending knife secured to said carrier and having a relatively straight transversely extending cutting edge at the lower portion thereof, means for reciprocating said carrier so that the knife moves toward and-fro'm cutting position, a slice evener andystacker provided with a transversely extending member that is arranged along and adjacent the forward face portion of the knife and only a short distance from the lower cutting edge of the knife so as to have'angular movement about an axis that parallels said cutting edge, and means cooperatively associated with the frame on the one hand and the'transversely extending stacker on the other hand for effecting 1 an'angular movement of the stacker and evener as the knife carrier approaches the end ofits downward movement toward full cutting position;

member is secured to the main frame and in' which a movable member having a twisted or spiral portion has a sliding engagement with the fixed guide member and is connected by a universal joint construction to the driving spiral gear, the construction being such that as the knife carrier is imparted a downward cutting movement the stacker is caused to have an angular movement imparted thereto in a manner to swing the upper part of the stacker and evener from upper position downwardly and forwardly.

4. A slicing machine comprising in combination a main frame, a knife carrier, means for supporting meat productsduring a slicing operation, a transversely extending knife on said knife carrier having a lower straight cutting edge, means for reciprocating said carrier so that the knife thereon moves toward and from said supporting means and in relation thereto in a manner to effect a slicing operation when the cutter is moving toward said supporting means, a slice with the frame on the one hand and the stacker and evener on the other hand for effecting angular movement of the stacker and evener about an axis that parallels said straight lower cutting edge of the knife as the ,knife approaches its lowermost cutting position, said knife in'the cutting operation comprehending a drawing cutting action as well as a shearing cutting action and the angular movement of the stacker and evener being effected throughthemedium of mechanism that comprehends associated members, one of which members is carried by the frame and the other of which members is operatively connected to the stacker and evener, one of said associated members being a rod thathas a twisted or spiral portion which slidably engages the other member and which is relied upon to effect the angular movement of the stacker and evener.

5.'A- slicing machine comprising a frame, a reciprocating knife carrier movable upwardly and downwardly on the frame and provided with a knife havinga lower cutting edge, means for guiding the knife carrier on the frame, a slice evener and stacker movable with the knife carrier and located in front of the cutting edge of the knife andextending. along the same in close knife having a lower cutting edge, means for guiding the knife carrier on theframe, a slice evener and stacker p'ivotally mounted on the knife carrier and located infront of the cutting edgeiof the knife and extending along the samein. closeproximity' thereto and arranged to swing downwardly and upwardly toward and from the adjacent face of the knife, and means connected with the knife evener and stacker foreifecting a downward swinging movement of the same as the knife approaches its lowermost cutting position.

7. A slicing machine comprising a frame, a reciprocating knife carrier movable upwardly and downwardly on the frame and provided with a knife having a lower cutting edge, means for guiding the knife carrier on the frame, a slice evener and stacker located in front of the cutting cutting edge of the knife and slightly above said cutting edge, and means cooperatively associated edge of the knife and extending along the same in close proximity thereto and provided at its ends with trunnions mounted on the knife carrier and arranged to permit the evener and stacker to swing downwardly and upwardly toward and from the knife, and means connected with the knife evener and stacker for effecting a downward swinging movement of the stacker as the knife approaches its lowermost cutting position.

8. A slicing machine comprising a frame, a reciprocating knife carrier movable upwardly and downwardly on the frame and provided with a knife having a lower cutting edge, means for guiding the knife carrier on the frame, a slice evener and stacker located in front of the cutting edge of the knife and extending along thesame in close proximity thereto and provided at its ends with trunnions mounted on the knife carrier to permit the evener and stacker to swing down wardly and upwardly, andlmeans connected with.

the knife evener. and stacker for effecting a downward swinging movement of thestacker as the knife approaches its lowermost cutting position,

said means including gearing connected with one o of the trunnions for effecting the said swinging movement of the slice evener and stacker, and mechanism connected with the gearing and actuated through the reciprocation of the knife carrier for driving the said gearing.

9. A slicing machine comprising a frame, a reciprocating knife carrier movable upwardly and downwardly on the frame and provided with a knife having a lower cutting edge, means for guiding the knife carrier on the frame, a slice evener and stacker located in front of the cutting edge of the knife and extending along the same in close proximity thereto and provided at its ends with trunnions mounted on the knife carrier to permit the evener andstacker to swing downwardly and upwardly, means connected with the knife evener and stackenfori effecting a downward swinging movement of" the stacker as the knife approaches its lowermost cutting position, said means including gearing movable with the said carrier and connected with one of the trunnions for effecting the said swinging movement of the slice evener and stacker, a slidable member connected with one of the gears and having a spiral portion, and a fixed guideway through which the slidable member moves and which engages the spiral portion of the same for effecting a rotary movement of the slidable member and the gear to which the same is connected.

10. A slicing machine comprising a frame, a

reciprocating knife carrier movable upwardly andto permit theslice evener and stackerto' swing downwardly and upwardly, a driven gear fixed to one of the trunnions, a bearing bracket mounted on the knifecarrler adjacent the said gear, a shaft mounted in the bearing bracket and provided with a driving gear meshing with the said driven gear, a fixed member mounted on the frame ofthe machine and spaced from the bearing bracket and having a guideway, and a slidable member connected with the said shaft and operable in the guideway and having a spiral portion arranged to beengaged by the guideway for rotating the slidable member and actuating the driving gear for effecting a downward swinging movement of thev evener and stacker as the knife approaches its lowermost cutting position.

11. Aslicing machine comprising a frame, a reciprocating knife carrier movable upwardly and downwardly on the frame and provided with a knife having 'a lower cutting edge, means for guiding the knife carrier on the frame, a slice evener and stacker located in front of the cutting edge of the 'knife and extending along the same in close proximity thereto and provided at its ends-with trunnions mounted and arranged to permit the slice evener and stacker to swing downwardly and upwardly, a driven gear fixed to one of thetrunnions, a bearing bracket mounted on the knife carrier adjacent the said gear, a shaft mounted in the bearing bracket and provided with a driving gear meshing with the said driven gear, a fixedmember mounted on the frame and located above the bearing bracket and provided with a guideway, a slidable rod operable in the guideway, and a universal joint having 

